Carpet vs. laminate flooring in bedrooms

Carpets and laminates are both suitable floor coverings for bedrooms, but which is best?

Durability and cost

Most people living in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas are concerned about value for money. Laminates and carpets come in various qualities, and of course the better the quality, the more you are likely to pay. The cost of floor coverings is not just the price per centimetre, you may have to pay fitting costs. Laminate flooring and carpets are easy and quick to fit, but laminate fitting charges can be a bit more expensive.

The other factor to consider is the lifespan of the floor covering. Carpets won’t last as long as laminates so will need replacing more often. A cheap carpet may cost less but will need replacing a lot sooner than laminate flooring, which makes the total lifetime cost of carpets more expensive.

A carpet can last from three to five years, or for between 10 and 25 years for top-quality carpet. Laminates last from 15 to 25 years, though very cheap laminates will not last that long. Bedrooms are not high-traffic areas, so expect any good quality flooring to last for 10 years or more.

Warmth and feel

Bedrooms are places where people are often barefoot, so a carpet feels warmer and more cosy. If there is laminate flooring in the bedroom, a few rugs are recommended, especially next to the bed.

Carpets have insulating properties thath can keep the bedroom warmer and save heating energy.

Acoustics

Sound from laminate floored bedrooms can often be heard by the people below. Carpets dampen sound so that it is either not heard in a room below, or is muffled.

This could be useful in family homes, where sound can be an issue. People in the lounge don’t want to hear the sounds of their teenage children playing noisy video games!

Moisture

Chester, North Wales and Wrexham have high annual rainfall. For this reason, it may not be advisable to have carpeted areas next to outside doors, as carpets don’t like too much water. Bedrooms are not high-moisture areas so carpets are fine. If the bedroom has en suite bathroom facilities, people should dry off before entering the carpet area.

Laminate flooring is water-resistant but cannot stand prolonged immersion in water. This could be a problem if your home is in a flood risk area, but floodwaters should not reach a first-floor bedroom.

Maintenance

For good bedroom hygiene, laminates and carpets need regular cleaning. Sweep laminates to remove loose dirt and mop using a laminate cleaning solution. Carpets need vacuuming and deep cleaning at least annually.

Stains are easily removed from laminates but can be more difficult to remove from carpets unless you buy a stain-resistant carpet.

Looks

Laminates usually come printed with realistic-looking wood grain designs. There is more variety of shades and patterns available for carpets,

Laminates and carpets are both fine for bedrooms. When deciding which to buy, consider all the above factors or talk to your local flooring supplier for further information.